Cuomo weighs in on allegations

Governor: If sexual harassment true, legislator must go

Updated 7:25 pm, Saturday, December 21, 2013

In Buffalo on Saturday morning to distribute coats and other charitable items, Gov. Andrew Cuomo spent his entire 10-minute Q&A responding to questions about the sexual harassment allegations against Dennis Gabryszak, the Assembly Democrat who is now the subject of complaints from three female former staffers.

Cuomo noted that the charges are currently unproven and that the lawmaker deserves a chance to respond.

But "If it's true, I think he should resign," Cuomo said, calling the women's allegations "startling ... and graphic."

"If they turn out to be true, I don't think that person has any place in public service," he said.

Cuomo was accompanied by Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, who was asked if there was a culture in Albany that was degrading to women.

"I think there's a culture in America that's degrading to women," Peoples-Stokes said. " ... I don't think it's just Albany, I don't think it's just New York state."

Cuomo dismissed Friday's criticism from state Republican Chairman Ed Cox, who claims Cuomo partially owns responsibility for any continuing problems in the Assembly because he failed to take Cox's suggestion to name a special prosecutor to investigate the Vito Lopez affair.